Moody not fazed by late start for his champion

Chris Roots

Black Caviar trainer Peter Moody is so relaxed about Saturday's T.J. Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick he was giving tips to the sell-out crowd.

The great mare will step out on Randwick at 5.10pm looking for win 25 and an Australian record 15th group 1 win, and the late start doesn't worry her trainer. "It will be a long day for anyone who decides to have their first beer at midday," Moody said. "It won't worry her."

Black Caviar has barrier one in the field of 11, which includes five other group-1 winners, and with the weather clearing she should arrive in town on Friday. "I was always confident she would get here, and the track will be improving with this sun," Moody said. "We have the best barrier and the best horse, so things are going all right.

"Everyone was trying to find a reason why barrier one was bad for Overreach [in the Golden Slipper] last week and I can tell you one thing, I would rather [one] than 18."

The Australian Turf Club said an extra 300 tickets for the race day would go on sale at 9am on Thursday. The last time Black Caviar was in Sydney, Hay List was there to give her a scare and after a gallop at Gosford on Wednesday, it was confirmed the hulking sprinter would run. Trainer John McNair was much happier with the way Hay List moved on Wednesday after he hung in in a gallop at Wyong on Sunday.

"My vet Brett Jones said he was probably just getting over a bug of some variety, [going] from his blood picture," McNair said. "At least it explains what was wrong on Sunday. He is going to improve for the run in the T.J. Smith because of the preparation we have had. He has missed a [barrier] trial and missed a run, so he is behind where we would want him, but this will help going towards the All Aged Stakes in a couple of weeks."

Bookmakers have marked the T.J. Smith as Black Caviar's biggest test in Australia for two years. Sportingbet put her up at a generous $1.12 favourite. "This is her toughest test in years and she might just be vulnerable," Sportingbet boss Michael Sullivan said. "As I always say, the bookmakers' job is to lay favourites and we won't be scared to take six- and seven-figure bets on her."